A Beginner offering a Beginners guide to Bourbon.

Having tried many different drinks and types of drinks, I have found I like Bourbon. I also like wine. Learning about the complexities of wine is a
lot of fun since you taste as part of the learning process. Imagine my surprise to find out that the same thing can happen with quality bourbon.

My son-in-law just came back from another trip to Afghanistan. We had talked several times while he was over there of going to a bar with a good top
shelf collection to taste some. He came up with an even better idea. Buy a few really good bottles and sample them at home.

So, here we have the starting selection:

We started out with Buffalo trace. Very smooth, a little sweet, nice finish. easy to enjoy. Lowest price ($28)
Next was Knob Creek. (was my favorite) Good smell, a bit of a bite after the Buffalo Trace. good flavor, OK finish. ($38) (I got a deal and only
paid $26-Costco)
Next up was Four Roses single barrel. Not much of a nose, very little bite at first, but a tiny bit at the end. Good flavor, but dissipated quick.
nice finish. Smooth drink all-in-all. ($36)
Last up was Basil Haydens. (my new favorite) Light smell, but good. Super smooth, almost no bite at all, and like a smooth saxophone, faded into a
very nice taste. Flavor was very good, not to oaky.($38)

We are interested in taking this to the next level and finding a few bottles that will rival these. So far, in order of agreed likeability:
1. Basil Hayden
2. Buffalo Trace
3. Four Roses single barrel
4. Knob Creek

Oh, and the Basil Hayden had the best presentation with a cool bottle and label.

Thanks Carl, for bringing the other 3 bottles, that was nice, but the real prize is, you left them at my house. I promise I will keep a close eye on
them. I cannot be held responsible for evaporation.

So please share any tips you may have for better bottles, but please, nothing over $100.

lol, wish I could say that was the case, but its the taxes. A slab of Budweiser and a slab of domestic will costs about the same for example like
around $40 to $45, if the beers over 5% alcoholic your going to be paying like $80.

Nah, you guys got it really good like that, I'm incredibly jealous. Talking about connoisseur bourbons for under $50.

I had a feeling you may have some input on this subject. I am going to try to locate a bottle or two to add to this collection. Some are kind of
hard to find. Like Pappy's.
thanks for the tips, and you don't need an invite, just let me know when you'll be here.

originally posted by: network dude
I had a feeling you may have some input on this subject.

You implying something?

I am going to try to locate a bottle or two to add to this collection. Some are kind of hard to find. Like Pappy's.
thanks for the tips, and you don't need an invite, just let me know when you'll be here.

The Black Maple is as close to Pappy's as you can get, it is blended by the same company.

Try to mix in some Ryes as they have a very different flavor profile. They also make excellent cocktails.

originally posted by: network dude
I had a feeling you may have some input on this subject.

You implying something?

Who, me? Never.

I am going to try to locate a bottle or two to add to this collection. Some are kind of hard to find. Like Pappy's.
thanks for the tips, and you don't need an invite, just let me know when you'll be here.

The Black Maple is as close to Pappy's as you can get, it is blended by the same company.

Try to mix in some Ryes as they have a very different flavor profile. They also make excellent cocktails.

I'll see what I can find around here, but I am looking for sipping bourbon. My wife gets the cheap stuff to mix with her coke. Thanks again for the
tips.

The same thing happened with Bordeaux when the Asian market opened up. There are some Asia export only Bourbons that I grab when I am in the duty free
shops or I know someone is going to visit Japan or China.

The challenge is the better Bourbons are over a decade old and it is hard to predict the market decades ahead of time.

Nah, you guys got it really good like that, I'm incredibly jealous. Talking about connoisseur bourbons for under $50.

Pardon my gloating, but some of the discount clubs like Costco often have the huge 1.75 litre bottles of high-end stuff for around $40.00
(We're talking close to a half-gallon!)

You've got some incredible stuff there too. We might have better hootch prices, but I can't walk out into my back and see a goanna.

network dude...This is a fun thread. I recently joined a bourbon club that's sponsored by a local grocery store chain.
When you sign up, you get a great price on a gift set which includes a 750 ml bottle of your choice of bourbon, and 2
nice glasses. One of the sets had 2 of these crystal tasters.

To this day, I still haven't tasted Knob Creek, so I'll be trying it soon. A couple of the bourbon people said it has
a 'different buzz', (very potent) and you'd better respect it!

a reply to: ColeYounger
Knob Creek was my "go to" until we did this little experiment. I still like it, but have found that others have vastly different characteristics.
This is the most fun I have had learning new things in a while.

BTW, after a morning job, I stopped by my local ABC store and found a bottle of Larceny for $27, so I grabbed it. they also had a bottle of Bookers
in a nice wooden display box for $56. If the PC God smiles on me this week, and gives me a few quality breakdowns, I may grab that later on.

ETA: I asked about Blantons, and the nice lady said they have some on order, but aren't sure when it's coming in. She said she'd let me
know.

edit on 13-4-2015 by network dude because: augustusmasonicus secretly works as a taster for Milwaukees Best brewery.

I used to be a Makers Mark man but then I found out that I liked Buffalo Trace better...just as smooth with more flavor. THEN I found Elmer T. Lee
bourbon. That is my all time favorite. It's very hard to find because it's a single barrel and therefore limited production and the demand has far
outstripped the supply. I think I paid in the high $30's for it.
If you can find Elmer T. Lee try it and then the next day go back and buy up their supply because it's not on the shelves long.

Got to love a good bourbon....sadly as another member pointed out bourbon here is not cheap unless you want the really garbage stuff......

Best one i have drunk is some my mate brought over that his old man brews...he called it essence of bourbon and it was super smooth,great flavor,no
bite at all with a high percentage of alcohol....everything i look for in a woman...

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